Margaret and Fr Tom Burke

Biographical History

From Castlegar, County Galway, the Burke family were involved in the independence movement. Fr Tom served as chaplain to the Galway Brigade of the Irish Volunteers/IRA while his sister Margaret was a member of Cumann na mBan. Margaret played an active role in the War of Independence and being on the Anti-Treaty side, she was arrested and interned in the North Dublin Union Internment Camp.

Archival History

This collection was deposited in UCD Archives by Colonel Dan Bryan in September 1975. 

Scope and Content

Irish Volunteers and IRA Galway Brigade: reports, communications and general organisational documents including letters from Michael Collins to its chaplain, Fr Tom Burke (1918–20).

Letters from Margaret Burke to her family while interned in the North Dublin Union (1923). Letters from Thomas Derrig, Hare Park Internment Camp and Mountjoy Jail, Dublin, to Catherine Burke Donovan (1923–24).

Printed matter and photographs relating to the Civil War and the hunger strikes (1922–23).

Access: Available by appointment to holders of a UCD Archives reader's ticket. Produced for consultation in original format. Original material will be retrieved on Fridays only. It will be made available for consultation in the UCD Special Collections reading room on Level One of the James Joyce Library.

Language: English

Finding aid: Descriptive catalogue